How to Cope with Anxiety

 
Are you often on-edge? Do you find it difficult to relax? When dealing with medical issues, it’s normal to feel emotionally drained, and cancer can cause physical and emotional changes — including anxiety — that persist during treatment and long after treatment has ended.
 

Am I anxious? Ask yourself:

  • Do I have repeating thoughts that interrupt my daily life?
  • Am I on-edge most of the time?
  • Do I have difficulty breathing when stressed?
  • Do I find it hard to relax?
  • Does my heart pound when under stress?
 
 

The unknowns about the future and follow-up care or testing often cause people to feel anxious. While anxiety is not the same as stress, they share some of the same symptoms including:
  • Feeling dizzy, drowsy and tired
  • Trouble sleeping
  • Heart palpitations/racing heart
  • Muscle aches
  • Feeling irritable, impatient
  • Nausea/sick to stomach    
  • Diarrhea
  • Headaches
  • Trouble focusing
  • Restlessness
  • Easily distracted
  • Depression

If you have any of these symptoms, it’s important to speak with your healthcare team about your concerns.

Talking about your feelings can also help. Your doctor can refer you to additional services, such as psychiatry and psychology, or if you are a City of  Hope patient, you can speak with a social worker by calling the Division of Clinical Social Work at 626-256-4673, ext. 62282.

There are several things you can do on your own to ease anxiety including:
  • Being physically active and exercising
  • Identifying and preparing for challenging situations
  • Using relaxation techniques like deep breathing or meditation ahead of stressful events

Guided Meditation for Patient, Caregivers and the Community

Virtual
 
Start your day with a morning meditation to help set the tone for your entire day. Led by a trained practitioner, these sessions will guide you through techniques that can help relieve and manage stress and anxiety, enhance health and well-being and improve insomnia. Guided meditation runs approximately 15 minutes, followed by time for Q&A and, if applicable, light stretches.
 

At City of Hope, you can find helpful information and support for anxiety in the Sheri & Les Biller Patient and Family Resource Center, including support groups, music and art therapy, yoga, massage and guided meditation. Visit the City of Hope YouTube channel for guided imagery and deep breathing exercise videos.

For class descriptions, dates and to reserve a spot, visit the Supportive Services Events Calendar or the Biller Center located on the Duarte campus in the Main Medical building behind the guest services desk or call 626-218-2273.
 
 

The Nightingale Channel: A Sound Approach to Wellness

Available when connected to City of Hope Wifi on Duarte Campus

The Nightingale Channel is a video channel of curated classical music performances, specifically with the patient experience in mind. Classical music can be beautiful, fun, sometimes curious and unusual, other times soothing and comforting, and it can be deeply moving.

In recent years, an array of studies points to the benefits on health outcomes provided by music. The preliminary research that has been done so far suggests that music-based interventions may be helpful for anxiety, depressive symptoms, and pain associated with a variety of health conditions.

Access the Nightingale Channel when you are on site at City of Hope Duarte campus.

You will need to be connected to the City of Hope WiFi network to access the channel here.